Astronomic dial for automatic electric time switches



Jan. 12, 1943. 1 B. F. FLEGEL 2,308,329

ASTRONOMIC DIAL FOR AUTQMATIC ELECTRIC TIME SWITCHES Filed March 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll llllll llvmlll 0 a 1 I I E/f9' INVENTOR.

w' J i M ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 12, 1943. B. F. FLEGEL 2,308,329

\ A STRONOMIC DIAL FOR AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TIME SWITCHES Filed March'22, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W -Q Iii"! m I 1 EVENTiXZ. BY i ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 12, 1943 ASTRONOMIC DIAL FOR AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TIME SWITCHES Benjamin F. Flegel, Racine, Wis.

Application March 22, 1941, Serial No. 384,627

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in astronomic dials for automatic electric time switches.

The desirability of the present invention results from the astronomical phenomena wherein during the major portion of a year the time of the setting of the sun advances or retards about one minute per day. Electric time switches have heretofore been provided which are substantially automatic in operation. These switches are employed to control electric circuits for the lights of store show windows, sign boards, etc. It is common practice for the owner of the store show window or other device to be illuminated to initially set the time switch to automatically turn on the lights or close the controlled circuit at approximately the time of the setting of the sun. The automatic time switch is furthermore set to open the controlled circuit or circuits and thus extinguish the lights for the show window or other device at a late hour in the night or early morning. Due to the automatic operation of an electric time switch the owner of the remises on which the same is installed is apt to fall into the careless habit of neglecting to change the setting of the time-on arm to correspond with the progressive shortening or lengthening of the days due to the change in the time of the setting of the sun. Consequently the controlled elec trical circuit may, during certain times of the year, be closed too early, with the consequent waste of electricity, or during other seasons of the year, the circuit may be closed after the need for illumination. These condition will prevail unless it occurs to the owner of the premises to readjust the setting of the time-on arm of the switch periodically.

With the above in mind it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an automatic electric time switch equipped with an astronomic dial which, during the major portion of each half year period, will either slightly advance, or slightly retard the setting of the time-on arm during each day of operation of the time switch to exactly adapt the operation of the time switch to the daily changing of the time of the setting of the sun.

It is an astronomical fact that from the period between about the middle of December and the middle of June the sun sets approximately one minute later each day and from about the middle of June until about the middle of December the cycle is reversed and the sun sets about one minute earlier each day. An object of the present invention is to provide a dial for an automatic electric time switch which automatically daily change the position of the time-on arm of the switch in accordance with the progression or recession in the time of the setting of the sun during a particular period or cycle, the improved mechanism being arranged so that it requires manipulation only once during each six months period to adapt the astronomic dial for either progressive advancement or retardation of the time-on arm, according to which cycle of the year it is to operate in.

Another astronomical phenomena taken into account through the mechanism of the improved dial is the fact that for a few days time in June and for a few days time in December of each year, just before and after the change in the cycle of the setting of the sun from progressive advancement each day to progressive retardation, or vice versa, the advancement or retardation during this short period is less than the normal one minute per day during the major period of each cycle and the present invention takes into account this phenomena and arranges for a proper lessened retardation or advancement of the time-on arm during such short periods.

Anothe factor provided for by the present invention is that for a very short period in June and December of each year just before the change in the cycle of movement of the sun there is no daily change in the setting time and during these periods of the year, which are practically negligible, the improved astronomic dial mechanism is arranged so as not to change the setting of the time-on arm of the time switch.

A further object of the invention is to provide an astronomic dial for electric time switches arranged with means for preventing the stripping of threads on an operating worm should the owner of the mechanism neglect to manipulate the reverse lever at the end of a siX months cycle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an astronomic dial for electric time switches which may be applied to a standard form of electric time switch without material modification of the switch and which i simply a desirable accessory thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide an astronomic dial for electric time switches which is adjustable to adapt it to correct operation in any specified latitude or longitude.

A further object of the invention is to provide an astronomic dial for electric time switches which is substantially automatic and foolproof in operation, which is easily applied to an electric time switch and is simple to set and manipulate,

which is inexpensive to manufacture and install, and which is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

With the above and other objects in View the invention consists of the improved astronomic dial for automatic electric time switches and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claim, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an automatic electric time switch equipped with the improved astronomic dial, and with the parts in one position of adjustment;

Fig. 2 is a side View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the astronomic dial equipped electric time switch;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front view of the astronomic dial and associated parts of the switch showing the manner in which the mechanism is operated to progressively advance the setting of the time-on arm during the December- June cycle;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the operation of the mechanism to progressively retard the setting of the time-on arm during the June- December cycle;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional View taken on line 65 of Fig. i, and on a larger scale;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary detail sectional View taken on line 2-7 of Fig. 5, and on a larger scale;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1, and on a larger scale;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail plan view of the time-on advancing or retarding worm wheel and integral connection thereon adapted for slidable engagement with the time-on arm.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan View of the slotted time-on arm;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged plan View of the bracket which supports certain of the timeon arm adjusting mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a side or edge view of the members shown in Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view of the operating worm.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings it will appear that the improved astronomic dial is associated with an automatic electric time switch of the form illustrated and described in connection with Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive of my copending application Serial No. 354,921, filed August 31, 1940, now Patent No. 2,242,517, granted May 20, 1941. It will not be necessary to describe the electric time switch per se in detail inasmuch as it embodies mechanism similar to that described in same copending application. However, in order that the application of the improved astronomic dial thereto may be readily understood, a description of the general operation of the time switch per se will be given, which will identify the general mechanism thereof with which the astronomic dial is associated.

The automatic time switch is adapted for many combinations or schedules of operation with respect to circuits to be controlled thereby. Perhaps the more usual arrangement is that wherein the switch is to be utilized for the making and breaking of one or two similar circuits (and in the case of two circuits, simultaneous operation of the same). Circuit wires [5 may extend to and include electric lights in one show window, for instance, and other circuit wires IE will extend to and include the electric lights in an adjacent show window. Let it be assumed that the lights in both show windows are to be turned on at 5:00 p. m. and are to be turned off at 1:00 a. m. It may also be assumed that the particular time of day is 5:30 a. m. and that the time of year is approximately February 15 and further that the sun set at said time of year is approximately at the time at which it is desired to turn on the lights in the show windows, namely 5:00 p. In. All of these conditions are represented by the adjustments of the time dial ll, time-0n arm I8, and time-off lug l9 depicted in Fig. l. A tension spring 20 is holding an angled lever 2| in a position in which a lug 22 on said lever engages in a recess 23 in a control disk 24, whereby the control disk 24 is held under tension in an advanced counterclockwise rotated position. In this position elongated portions of certain operating cams 25 and 26 are in engagement with yieldable switch elements 2'! and 2B and hold the contact ends of the same in depressed or circuit breaking positions. Obviously, therefore, the circuits to the show windows will be broken. All of this mechanism is clearly described in my Patent No. 2,242,517.

It may be stated that notwithstanding the operation of clock mechanism to automatically drive the dial IT, the switches may be manually independently operated if it becomes necessary or desirable to open or close the circuits before the time for which the mechanism is set for automatic operation. To this end, a portion of the lever 2| may be manually manipulated to swing said lever so as to release its lug 22 from the disk recess 23, whereupon the spring 20 will rotate the disk 24 in a limited clockwise direction until stopped by engagement of an edge flange 29 on the disk 24 with a pin 30. Such movement of the operating disk 24 will cause a similar rotation of a cam shaft 3! and consequent movements of the cams 25 and 26. Likewise an extension arm 32 on the operating disk 24 provides means whereby the disk may be manually turned in a desired direction.

Returning to the conditions previously named in connection with the setting in Fig. 1, the circuits are open and the lights in the show windows are off. With the electric clock mechanism 33 driving the dial I! through the medium of a train of gears 34, and the proper shafts, said dial will turn slowly in a clockwise direction. When five oclock in the evening is reached, or the time at which the time-on arm I8 is set, the beveled end of said arm l3 will engage the angled end of the lever 2|, and as the movement of the dial continues, said lever will be moved so as to disengage its lug 22 from the disk recess 23. This will be against the tension of the coiled spring 20 and the pull exerted by said spring will cause the disk 24 to move in a clockwise direction, upon being released, and movement of said disk in said direction is limited by the pin 30. The consequent movement of the cam carrying shaft 3! is such as to move the high side: of the cams 25 and 26 away from the yieldable contact elements 2'! and 28 with the result that said contact elements will snap into engagement with their complementary fixed contacts 35 and Accordingly, the circuits will be closed and the lights in the windows will be luminated.

As the clock dial :7 moves toward 1:00 a. In. one side of an angled spring 31 will ride along the pin and said spring will be compressed and retracted thereby. It should be noted that the spring is yieldingly mounted adjacent the inner face of the dial I1 and the normally projecting portion 38 of said spring in fact serves as the time-off operating hand although it is associated with and adjusted for location by the member IS. The action last described serves to put the spring lug 38 under compression for quick, positive and effective snap action. Upon further movement of the time dial l1 to reach the desired setting of 1:00 a. m., such advancement of the dial will cause the spring lug 38 to snap clear of the pin 30, striking an outstruck flange 29 of the control disk 24. This very quickly oscillates the control disk and elements associated therewith in a counterclockwise direction to an extent to cause the lug 22 of the angled lever 21 to snap into the disk recess 23. Upon manipulation of the disk 24 in the manner just described, the high portions of the earns 25 and 26 will again be projected against the yiel-dable switch elements 21 and 23 to cause the same to break the circuits and thereby extinguish the lights of the show windows at substantially 1:00 a. m., or the time set for the time-off lug.

From the foregoing it will readily be appreciated that unless it occurs to the operator the settings of the time-on and time-off hand and lug will remain the same so that the controlled circuits, day after day, will be turned on at the same time and will be turned off at the same time. This is of no particular consequence insofar as the time-off lug is concerned but it is very vital in connection with the operation with the timeon hand. As suggested heretofore it is common practice to have the time switch arranged to close the circuits and light the lights at about the time of the setting of the sun. Due to the astronomical phenomena that the time of the setting of the sun changes from day to day, in general, it will be appreciated that if the operator neglects to readjust the time-on arm, eventually material discrepancies will result as between the actual time of the setting of the sun and the time of closure of the controlled electric circuits.

The broad object of the present invention is to overcome the particular difficulty last enumerated, and the combination of an improved astronomic dial with the described time switch mechanism provides for automatic daily advancement or retardation of the time-on hand, in accordance with the particular time of the year, and commensurate with the day by day time variations in the setting of the sun.

Returning to the showing in the drawings it should be stated that the time dial I1 is adjustably clamped on a projecting shaft 40 which is driven by the clock mechanism. In adjusted position the dial rotates with the shaft because of impingement with certain collars 4| caused by the tightening of a winged nut 42. An astronomic dial 43, of less diameter than the dial I1, is adjustably mounted on the shaft 40 against the outer face of the time dial I1. The astronomic dial 43 is adapted to turn with said shaft 49 and time dial [1, but it may be adjusted slightly relative to the time dial l1, to adapt it for a specified longitude through the medium of the arcuate slot 44 in the astronomic dial 43 and the screw 45 carried by the time dial !1 and projecting into said slot. When the astronomic dial is initially properly adjusted, said screw 45 is turned down, causing a Washer 46 to tightly engage the astronomic dial whereby the two dials will turn as a unit.

cation June 21December 11.

The enlarged apertured end l8 of the timeon arm I 8 is loosely mounted on the shaft 49 adjacent the outer face of the astronomic dial 43. It is held against axial displacement by a loose collar 41 having a bore substantially greater than that of the shaft passing therethrough. The collar 41 and arm 18 are retained on the shaft 40 by the Winged nut 42. Said time-on arm I8 is shown in detail in Fig. 10 and it will be observed that its major portion is provided with an elongated slot 48. Also, its extreme outer end portion projects beyond the periphery of the time dial [1 and is ofiset inwardly and is beveled.

A sector-shaped plate 49, shown in detail in Figs. 11 and 12, is mounted in an outwardly spaced position on the outer face of the astronomic dial 43 adjacent a peripheral portion thereof. Projecting inwardly from an intermediate portion of the plate 49 is a fixed stud 50 on which is rotatably mounted a worm wheel 5!. Said worm wheel has secured to its inner face a radially projecting arm 52 (see Figs. 8 and 9) and projecting inwardly from an outer portion of said arm is a fixed projection 53 which is adapted to be positioned in and ride along the slots 48 of the time-on arm 8.

The top face of the sector-shaped plate 39 has pivotally mounted thereon a bracket 54 whose outwardly projecting end portion is inwardly flanged and is formed with a U-shaped recess 55 (see Fig. 12). flanged end of the bracket 54 normally engages and has lodged therein an unthreaded shank portion 56 (see Fig. 13) of an elongated Worm or screw 51. The outer end portion of said screw 51, which projects radially beyond the periphery of the time dial 11 has fast thereon a star wheel 58. This star wheel has seven points thereon and a complete revolution of the star wheel corresponds to the passing of a weeks time, with each distance between adjacent points corresponding to a days time. The inner end portion of the worm 51 is unthreaded as at 59 and extends through an enlarged opening therefor in the loose collar 41. Said end portion of the Worm is furthermore journalled in an aperture in an outstanding hub 60 on the astronomic dial 43. A coiled spring BI is extended between the pivotally mounted bracket 54 and a remote portion of the sector plate 49. This spring normally tends to yieldingly retain the apertured and flanged portion 55 of the bracket 54 in engagement with the portion 56 of the worm 51.

Mounted on the front face of the front panel 62 of the electric time switch, adjacent a peripheral portion of the time dial [1, is a U-bracket 63 in which is revolubly mounted a stud shaft 64. The inner end of said shaft carries fast thereon a disk provided at its peripheral portion with a projecting pin 66. The other end portion of the shaft has fixedly thereon the inner end portion of an operating lever 61. One face of the lever 61 carries the indication thereon December 11-June 21 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, while the other face of the lever E51 carries the indi- When the lever 61 is in the position of Figs. 1 and 4 the movement of the lever to said position will have turned the shaft 64 and disk to a position wherein the projecting pin 55 is positioned below or inwardly of the longitudinal plane of the axis of the shaft 64 as well as below or inwardly of the longitudinal plane of the axis of the worm 51. Conversely, when the lever 61 is moved through an arc of the disk 65 and pin 66 will be ro- This recessed portion of the i tated so as to position the projecting pin 66 forwardly or outwardly of the longitudinal plane of the axis of the members 54 and 51.

If we return to the original premise wherein it was stated that the time-on arm [8 was set for 5:00 p. m., approximately the time of the setting of the sun, on or about February 15, it will then be evident that we are concerned with the DecemberJune cycle, during which period, save for a slight exception, the time of the setting of the sun is approximately one minute later each day. With the improved mechanism, when the lever 61 is in the position of Figs. 1 and 4, the time-on arm [8 will actually be moved, with each daily rotation of the time dial l1, an additional one minute beyond five oclock except at the beginning and end of the six months period. As was observed heretofore, the projecting pin 66 in the disk 65 is inwardly of the longitudinal plane of the axis of the shaft 6 3. Therefore, when the time dial l1 turns in a clockwise direction the star wheel 58 on the worm 5'! will eventually be brought into the path or" the projecting pin 66 and said pin will engage a point or projection on the inner side of the star wheel, causing a forward turning movement of the star wheel, relative to the showing in Figs. 1,4. and 6. The worm 51 will be turned in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6 and such movement of the worm will correspond to the distance between two adjacent prongs on the star wheel. The worm is in engagement with and drives the worm wh e; The turning movement of the worm will, under these conditions, impart a slight movement to the worm wheel 5| in a counterclockwise direction relative to the drawings. This slight movement of the worm wheel causes the integral projecting arm 52 to swing slightly in a counterclockwise direction with its projecting pin riding outwardly in the slot 48 of the time-on arm l8, during the first half of the six months period, and causing the time-on arm to move a distance of one minute on the time dial [1 beyond five oclock, save for the exceptions noted. This same action takes place every day, or upon each complete rotation of the time dial I1. At about the middle of a six months period the pin 53 reaches the other end portion of the slot 48, and thereafter moves in the opposite direction in said slot.

As the time of year advances close to the change of the cycle on or about June 21, a phenomena takes place which was heretofore mentioned, and that is to the effect that the time of the setting or the sun does not retard each day the customary one minute, but this period is lessened, and around June 21 for a short time interval there is no substantial change in the time of the setting of the sun. This phenomena is taken care of in the improved mechanism by virtue of the fact that the pin 53 on the arm 52, which swings the time-on arm 18, reaches the inner end portion of the slot 48 in said arm l3, whereby movement of the arm 13 is initially retarded and then entirely prevented due to lessened leverage thereagainst.

With the improved mechanism the only manipulation the owner or operator will ever have to make is at the end of a six months cycle. Hence, some time in the neighborhood of June 21 the operator should manipulate the lever 61 so as to swing it through the 180 are from the position of Fig. 5 so as to take care of the daily advancement in the time of the setting of the sun during the June-December cycle. Such movement of the lever 61 will impart a similar movement to the disk 65, causing the projecting pin 65 to be positioned outwardly of the longitudinal plane of the axis of the shaft 64. Consequently, upon each rotation of the time dial 11 in a clockwise direction an outer point or prong on the star wheel 53 will be contacted by the pin 61 with the result that during this cycle, each day, the star wheel will be turned a distance equal to the distance between two adjacent projections in a direction opposite to that previously described, or in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6. This will cause a corresponding daily opposite directional movement of the worm 51 and worm wheel 5| initially moving the arm 52 outwardly relative to the slot in the timeon arm [8, to cause eventually a daily one minute movement of the time-on arm in a clockwise direction relative to the time dial l1, during the major portion of the cycle, as previously mentioned. Due to the pin 53 moving outwardly and then back and eventually reaching the inner end portion of the slot 48 in the time-on arm IS, in a short period around June 21 11nd around December 11, the retardation or advance of the time-on arm will be substantially less than one minute per day and thereafter movement of the time-on arm will cease entirely, until after the lever 61 has been thrown to its reverse position, but during the major portion of the cycle the one minute per day retardation or advance of the timeon arm will be constant.

The improved mechanism is also equipped with a safety arrangement which automatically becomes operative should the operator or owner neglect to reverse the position of the lever 61 at the end or" the June or at the end of the December cycle. Should this movement of the lever be neglected, it can be appreciated that ordinarily the continued movement of the star wheel in the same direction would continue to drive the worm and worm wheel in the same direction to an extent eventually prohibited by the length of the slot 53 in the arm 18 and this would ordinarily cause a stripping of threads and damage to the device. However, with the present improvement, if there is neglect in reversing the position of the lever, the threads will not be stripped because eventually when the parts become bound, engagement of the star wheel with the disk projection 63 will cause the worm to swing radially slightly so as to disengage the worm wheel. This is permitted by the spring urged bracket 54 which ordinarily holds the worm in engagement with its worm wheel.

The astronomic dial mechanism illustrated is an arrangement adapted for a latitude of 45. The device may be adapted for any latitude by a shortening or lengthening of the arm 52 which controls movement of the time-on arm 18. Furthermore, the adjustment of the adaptability of the dial for different longitudes can be taken care of by the pin and slot arrangement 44 and 15 by which the astronomic dial 23 is made fast to the time dial IT. For a desired longitude, initally the astronomic dial 43 is adjusted relative to the time dial and is then held in this adjusted position by the screw 45.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improved astronomic dial for automatic electric time switches is substantially automatic in operation, compensates for astronomical phe nomena in relation to the changing in the time of the setting of the sun, is readily adaptable erated by timed engagements with said trip members, means, upon each complete rotation of the time dial, for shifting said slotted trip member in a certain direction along the time dial a predetermined distance irom the selected graduation it was originally registered with, said means including a Worm and worm wheel actuated lever having a portion slidably engaged with the slot in said trip member, and manually operated means for reversing the direction of daily shift ing movement of said trip member.

BENJAMIN F. FLEGEL; 

